SOCCER hero Wayne Rooney, whose Euro 2004 ended so cruelly when he broke a bone in his foot, has been set on the road to recovery by a top orthopaedic team at the BUPA Hospital in Whalley Range.

The 18-year-old England sensation, who hobbled out of England's nail-biting quarter-final tie with Portugal, landed in Manchester Airport last Friday with the rest of the England squad and headed straight for the hospital in Russell Road, where foot specialist Ashok Samuel Paul treated David Beckham for a similar injury before the 2002 World Cup.

And, though it still remains unclear which of the sports injury experts at the Whalley Range hospital is treating whizzkid Wayne, there is no mistaking he is is in good hands.

For, two years ago, specialist Mr Ashok Samuel Paul, a member of the British Orthopaedic Sports and Trauma Association, treated Beckham when he broke his second metatarsal bone. Just seven weeks later the England skipper was back on the pitch, in plenty of time for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Rooney went for his first consultation with a BUPA foot specialist on Saturday, June 26, the day after he appeared at Manchester Airport on crutches.

Everton physio Mick Rathbone confirmed Rooney had cracked his fifth metatarsal - the bone leading to his little toe.

He said Rooney may have to use crutches and wear a short cast or special boot on his foot for at least three weeks to heal the injury to the bone.

But he could be back on the pitch within six weeks, thanks to the BUPA hospital's orthopaedic specialists.

A spokesman for Everton Football Club said: "I can confirm that Wayne Rooney went to see a consultant on Saturday morning at a BUPA Hospital in Manchester."

Manchester United, meanwhile, are rumoured to be preparing a £30m-plus bid for the youngster, but his injury may delay any transfer to Old Trafford.